Written by Jamesie Fournier
Illustrated by Faiza Khan
Inhabit Media
978-1-77227-660-2
28 pp.
Ages 3–6
September 2026
Two years ago, Lemming celebrated her first Christmas (Lemming's First Christmas, written by Jamesie Fournier, illustrated by Tim Mack, 2024), but this year she has a little lemming pup, Lemmingkulu, who will be learning about "the chilly, dark night of Arctic Halloween." (pg. 9)
When Lemmingkulu sees all the children and monsters milling around, he cries out to his Anaana (mother). Frightened by a bandaged creature, a bony skeleton, and a pale ghost, Lemmingkulu wonders why their friends are wearing masks and costumes. His Anaana explains that "When the summer days cool and make way for icy, wintery blue, there is one dark night when the monsters come out to fright, and we join them as they do." (pg. 14)
 |
| Illustration by Faiza Khan from Lemming's First Halloween, written by Jamesie Fournier |
Though the text of Lemming's First Halloween is not obviously written in verse, Jamesie Fournier tells his story with rhyming that carries the reader from fright to fun easily. Very young children, like Lemmingkulu, might be frightened by some of the things they see on Halloween, but Anaana has wise words for them all.
In fact, to be brave we must first be afraid, to know what scares us true. So when the going gets tough, as always it must, we're ready through and through. For in our hears we're all scared little lemmings who can be bold too. (pg. 17)
This will be something that Lemmingkulu takes to heart when Qallupilluk, that mythical Inuit creature that grabs children who venture too close to the water, approaches. Then Lemmingkulu's new lesson and grit help protect all his friends.
 |
| Illustration by Faiza Khan from Lemming's First Halloween, written by Jamesie Fournier |
Lemming's First Halloween is not a simple story of Halloween. Author Jamesie Fournier, an Inuit writer from Thebacha/Fort Smith, may have a story ready for the October holiday shelves, but he also gives us a story of character, of family, and of Inuit and Arctic cultures. Halloween in the North is very different, especially because of the temperatures, the snow, and the darkness. But when you include the Inuit mythological creature Qallupilluk, a new layer is added to the story. Jamesie Fournier brings us something that truly is frightening, but Lemmingkulu is able to handle it because of the wisdom his Anaana shared.
 |
| Illustration by Faiza Khan from Lemming's First Halloween, written by Jamesie Fournier |
I was surprised to learn that the illustrations for Lemming's First Halloween were not created by the same illustrator who did Lemming's First Christmas. Faiza Khan, a Toronto-based illustrator, emulates the style of the earlier book (illustrated by Tim Mack) and gives it her own spin with art that speaks to the mystery of Halloween and the singularity of the holiday in the North. Faiza Khan's digital art keeps the joy and the fun in her bold colours and rounded shapes but gives us the cold and the frightfulness of Halloween with shades of blues and black and the sharpness that comes with ice and cold.
Teachers love holiday books, and they will love Lemming's First Halloween. But don't stop at using it as a Halloween story. Read it for its incorporation of Inuit culture and language (a glossary of Inuktitut words is included), of character education, and of life in the Arctic. Lemming and Lemmingkulu, and all their friends, have much to teach us.
